COFFEE BREAK WITH JOY PROMMA KONNGERN

Joy is a lead wax carver, here at OHM. Some of his amazing works include Love Hurts, Grumpy Cat, and Wings Of Protection. Not only is he a talented carver, but he’s also a beloved member of the team, as can be seen by the hashtags his colleagues used to describe him with #determined #sweet #epic #bigbrother #awesome #sharing #mentor #crafted #single. We dragged him out of a meeting so you could get to know him a bit better.

When did you start working at OHM and what did you do before joining OHM?

I started working at OHM in 2010 as a rubber mold maker. I was working for five other jewelry companies over the past eight years before joining OHM.

How would you describe your background?

I’ve loved art ever since I can remember. When I was little, I always looked for anthills near the rice field and carved them into different shapes using a metal stake. Once I made a Buddha face, which I was very proud of. At school, I always participated in art competitions, and in 12th grade, I was runner-up in one of the major art competitions in the region.

After graduating from high school, I did not continue my education due to my family's financial hardship. At the time, my family could only afford to send one child to higher education, and I wanted to give this opportunity to my younger brother, who wanted to become an electrician. I went to Bangkok to work and support my family and younger brother. 

How did you become a wax carver and jewelry designer?

I started working at OHM as a rubber mold maker, where I also learned other aspects of jewelry making by helping my colleagues. One day OHM was looking for a new wax carver, and Kit asked me if I wanted to learn wax carving. Without hesitation, I jumped on the opportunity, because this had been something I always wanted to do for a long time. It was a dream come true. It's very difficult and challenging, but since I loved it so much, it motivated me even more. 

When you started carving, what was the first piece you carved for OHM?

Love Hurts was the first officially-released bead that I carved from beginning to end. I love the meaning and story of this bead. Knowing the story behind the design helps me connect to my work.

Love Hurts is such an amazing piece loved by so many. What's the most challenging piece you've done?

The Bead Fairy is one of the most challenging pieces that I've ever carved. Not only her face, expression and other details have to be realistic, but I had to carve her with size and weight constraints.

What's your style?

I like punk rock, steampunk, and in particular, any style that evokes emotion.

What else do you enjoy doing when you're not carving waxes?

Riding bikes, watching travel channels on YouTube, playing video games.

What's your favorite food?

I love anything spicy, especially northeastern-styled food with sticky rice.

What are your personal challenges?

Losing weight is the main one, 555. I find myself not disciplined enough to follow through with my plans.

What do you want to do in the future?

I was born into a farming family, growing rice, and farming in northeastern Thailand. Someday I want to go back to my hometown and create sustainable farms for my community.

Farming requires a lot of dedication, like jewelry making. What advice can you give to people who are interested in working in the jewelry industry?

You can take jewelry-making classes, but don't spend money on something you're not passionate about. If you're not sure you're going to like it or not, teach yourself. There are a lot of resources online, especially on YouTube. Learn the different aspects of jewelry making and see what you like the most and focus on that. I learn new skills and techniques from YouTube all the time.

What do you want to tell OHM customers?

I want to thank all of our OHM customers for their support. Seeing photos from customers wearing the beads I carved makes me proud of my work and motivates me.

What is your favorite coffee?

Mocha